Mid-size SUVs are all the rage in the Australian automotive landscape.
While many associate the sunburnt country with dual-cab utes, medium SUVs actually sell in greater numbers, with nearly 300,000 new examples finding a new home this year.
As such, CarExpert readers have lapped up our crossover coverage in 2025. That said, some models garnered more attention than others.
So, as the year comes to a close, it’s time to look back at our most viewed mid-size SUV reviews of 2025.
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Spoiler alert: Chinese newcomer models feature heavily, and best-sellers such as the Toyota RAV4 and Mazda CX-5 are mysteriously absent!
In the interests of transparency, all vehicles in this list are medium SUVs as defined by VFACTS sales statistics published by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI).
5. Subaru Forester Hybrid
European correspondent James Fossdyke ventured to the English midlands for the UK launch of the new Subaru Forester, one of Australia’s most popular mid-size SUVs.
Changes for the latest Forester included a new hybrid system, although James drove a British-specification model with a 2.0-litre boxer engine.
James Fossdyke wrote:
“If you value ruggedness, reliability and off-road capability above all else, the Forester is still the car for you.
“It’s now better looking and more comfortable than before, but if heading away from the blacktop is less of a priority and you just want a family SUV that feels semi-premium and pleasant to drive, there are better and more polished options out there.”
You can read our full review of the Subaru Forester Hybrid here
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MORE: Explore the Subaru Forester showroom
4. Geely EX5
Geely made its contribution to the influx of Chinese-made electric SUVs by launching the EX5 back in February, and then-deputy marketplace editor Jack Quick was present in Bowral, New South Wales for the first national media drive.
Jack Quick wrote:
“This car is all about perspective. If you’re stepping into one from a combustion-powered vehicle, it’ll surprise you with its silence (the Mr Whippy-esque pedestrian warning sound aside), and its snappy low-speed acceleration. The packaging will also be refreshing to you because there’s no driveline to encroach on second-row space.
“However, when compared to other rival EVs, there’s little that sets the Geely EX5 apart from the ever-growing crowd. The technology feels eerily reminiscent of a Tesla besides there being a digital instrument cluster and head-up display, there’s no Apple CarPlay and Android Auto available at launch, and the blobby looks and limited paint colour palette do it no favours.
“I appreciate the amount of effort Geely has put into investing in local chassis tuning, which is a step in the right direction that several rival Chinese brands just haven’t taken yet.
“But although the company claims it has made changes to the suspension, it still errs firmly on the comfort end of the spectrum, as many Chinese cars do. I’d be interested to experience what the Chinese-spec model is like on Australian roads just for comparison’s sake.
“The fact this car is also front-wheel drive doesn’t help from a handling dynamics standpoint. Many rear-wheel drive rivals are considerably more rewarding to drive on twisty roads.
“The front wheels on this car can get overwhelmed with the amount of power and torque they need to send to the road, and you can tell Geely has dialled back the initial throttle response to account for this.
“Ultimately, the level of Australian interest in this car could well come down to its pricing. The leaked figures are extremely promising, but we’ll reserve judgement until we get confirmation of this.”
You can read our full review of the Geely EX5 here
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MORE: Explore the Geely EX5 showroom
3. Zeekr 7X
Chinese manufacturer Zeekr is beginning to find its feet in Australia, with the 7X mid-size electric SUV promising to accelerate that process. Senior contributor Matt Campbell headed to China for the briefest of drives, and came away impressed.
Matt Campbell wrote:
“This will be one of the most enticing new electric models to arrive in the bustling mid-size SUV market this year.
“It has the right tech and specs, standout design and enough desirable features to make it a very attractive proposition compared to some of its current mainstream rivals.”
You can read our full review of the Zeekr 7X here
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MORE: Explore the Zeekr 7X showroom
2. BYD Sealion 7
BYD rolled out its most important model in Australia earlier this year – the Sealion 7 electric SUV. Marketplace journalist Max Davies travelled to South Australia for the local launch in the form of a flashy presentation ahead of the LIV Golf Adelaide 2025 tournament.
Max Davies wrote:
“All up, the Sealion 7 is quite a good car. Clearly it isn’t an SUV that stands out for its exterior beauty nor its interior layout, as there are a lot of elements here that are found on many other electric SUVs.
“Its strength therefore lies in its function. In our relatively brief time with the car we found hardly any features that would annoy us in the long term, and while things like speed limit warnings can crop up, it’s not too difficult to disable them.
“Everything justworks, and the inclusion of various items like physical air vents and a handful of actual buttons make the car easier to operate on the move – especially compared to the screen-only Model Y and Deepal S07 mid-size SUVs.
“Then there’s the ride. BYD has done well to set this car up for Australian roads, and regardless of whether there was a concerted effort to tune it locally or not, the fact is it’s impressively solid.
“Its firm-ish suspension gives it a premium-feeling ride that doesn’t tire you out. Power delivery is also smooth, the steering feels as it should, and there’s a strong balance between straight-line performance and daily usability – especially evident with the Premium.
“The Sealion 7’s only real issues are the accelerator pedal’s weird ‘flywheel effect’, its as-yet-unknown real-world efficiency, and the fact the Performance flagship really isn’t worth the extra money. A much more convincing value proposition is the Premium, as it has more range and an already healthy list of standard gear.
“BYD’s newest Australian model has plenty of space, drives well, doesn’t cost too much, and doesn’t annoy you with poorly planned user interfaces or incessant beeps and bongs.
“You could do a lot worse than the Sealion 7 Premium, and at launch we think it makes more sense than the incoming Model Y will.”
You can read our full review of the BYD Sealion 7 here
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MORE: Explore the BYD Sealion 7 showroom
1. BYD Sealion 6
The Sealion 6 received its first major update this year, which brought Australia-specific suspension tuning and revised pricing across the range. Senior contributor Matt Campbell got behind the wheel of a top-spec Premium to see if those changes were for the better.
Matt Campbell wrote:
“If you want a mid-size SUV and you’re not sure if going full-electric is right, then the Sealion 6 could be the best option for you.
“It has a useful EV range, plenty of spec and tech, and a more affordable price than any other medium SUV with this kind of smarts.
“No wonder it’s the best-selling PHEV on the market. It deserves to be.”
You can read our full review of the BYD Sealion 6 here
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